‘Meter Rates Pinching Pockets’: Pune Commuters React To New Auto, Cab Fare System

App-based auto and cab services charging fares based on government-approved rates have irked Punekars. The decision, aimed at standardising fares and curbing overcharging, has stirred a wave of reactions from commuters, drivers and transport officials alike.

Ameen Iqbal, an auto driver, said, “It is a win-win situation for both riders and drivers. Meter-based rates are RTO-approved. We are not asking for prices that are exorbitant or irrational; we want our proper due while keeping in check the rights of both drivers and commuters."

Rajendra Gupte, another auto driver, added that earlier app-based cab services used to take disproportionate commissions on each ride. “Now we pay only ₹20 per day for using the platform, and the dues for our work remain with us. Commuters may not trust us, but they can trust the metre. If they see any fault in the system, they can complain about it to the RTO," he further said.

While drivers welcome the changes, commuters expressed frustration over rising costs. Shivam Shankarwar, a resident of Hadapsar, said, “I regularly travel between Wadgaon Sheri and Season’s Mall in Mundhwa by autorickshaw. Suddenly, the fare has increased compared to last month. Earlier it used to be ₹108, and now it rounds up to ₹158–160 for a one-way ride.”

Mohit Kavitkar, a 30-year-old IT professional, said the change in fare structure has disadvantaged commuters. "Now Uber charges meter rates, which are usually more compared to the fare shown by the app. This is pinching my pocket as I find autorickshaw the only mode of transport from my residence to my office in Magarpatta," he added.

Keshav Kshirsagar, President of the Auto Rickshaw Union, speaking to The Free Press Journal, said, “The fare has been charged from the passengers based on the website approved by Pune RTO and the new rates.”

"The drivers are being asked to introduce transparency in their operations, for instance, to paste a QR code in their vehicles so that passengers can check the fare themselves. However, regulatory challenges persist. Last year, the RTO had refused to provide an aggregator license to Ola and Uber to operate in Pune and nearby areas, but they are still operating without hindrance. This highlights the government’s laxity in handling big firms," he added.

Meanwhile, the Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Pune clarified that autorickshaw drivers using apps must inform passengers upfront about using meter rates.

Swapnil Bhosle, an RTO official, told FPJ, “We are holding meetings with auto and cab unions to ensure compliance. Non-compliance will lead to penalties, including delisting from platforms.”

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